If we’ve said it once, we’ve definitely said it twice. Backing up your data is critical, important, and necessary. You should not simply hope your data is fine. Data is one of your company’s most valuable assets, no matter what industry you’re in.

The hardest part about backing up your data is often just knowing where to start, so here are a few tips that might help steer you in the right direction:

3-2-1:

This is a rule we love, and it’s easy to remember. Always store backups on different types of storage media (external hard drive, NAS) and have one copy stored offsite (cloud). Storing a copy offsite also helps with access in the case of a natural disaster and even a data breach.

Keep hard copies:

Always keep hard copies of company procedures and contact information. Yes, that means your rolodex can stay, Derron. But you still need to review them regularly and make sure any physical copies remain up to date.

Test backup routines:

Testing backups twice a month should be a part of your regular checklist. Make improvements as gaps or issues are uncovered, because small changes are much easier than big ones.

Need more on backups?

Strategies: Why Data Backups Are Important Plus Strategies To Protect Your Information

Critical questions: Three Critical Questions to Ask About Your Data Backups

Dreams of vacations and other reasons for seasonal sluggishness don’t need to equal summertime sadness, no matter how much you like the first lady of baroque pop. Let’s check out some summertime tech topics together!

How Extreme Heat Hurts Jobs and the Economy | Time

Depending on where you live, you may not realize that heatwaves affect more than just the vulnerable and those sensitive to high temps. Servers are also at high risk, as they’re already being continually cooled in the best of situations. This Time article additionally argues that the heat reduces worker motivation and majorly affects our economy.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Productivity losses due to heat currently cost the U.S. an insane $100 billion a year.
    
2. By 2050, outdoor industries like construction and agriculture are projected to lose $1.2 billion per year and $130.7 million per year each, just from heat-related delays.
    
3. On high heat days, studies show people working in offices are more likely to feel tired or sick at work. Not only from daydreams of being on the lake, but this is also partly a result of nighttime temperatures remaining too high to get a good night’s sleep.
   
   

Losses surge as cyberattacks continue to target SC business | GSA Business

Our local community of South Carolina businesses lost $21 million last year due to ransom attacks and other cybersecurity breaches. And before you even get to ask yourself... Yes, you are a target. Here in South Carolina and beyond. The good news is cybercriminals target companies with poor cyber hygiene.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Through May, SC-based businesses saw losses from data breaches which doubled those from all of last year, reaching $42 million by the end of the month.
   
   
2. 50% of attacks target small and medium-sized businesses, according to DC-based cybersecurity firm PurpleSec.
   
   
3. If you suspect or even observe suspicious activity or suspect a network intrusion, contact the FBI’s Columbia field office or their CyWatch program at cywatch@fbi.gov or 1-855-292-3937.
    

Are you compromised? How to Tell if You've Been Hit with Ransomware

You’ve been breached- now what? What To Do After You've Been Hit With Ransomware

No, we’re not talking about solar panels. Fun fact, solar panels actually produce LESS energy on hot days, just like your sales department. How’s that for a joke you can use later?

Anyway, here are three of five suggestions pulled from our deep dive into ways to stay mega-productive while the sun is mega-hot.

 

1. Pick three major things that need to get done today and assign a time/deadline to them.

Maybe it’s three major things or different ways for you to take care of yourself throughout the day, but there’s just something fulfilling about crossing items off a list. Some old-timers (or partial Luddites) may be uncertain of it, but there is a tremendous amount of technology available out there for you to use in the pursuit of an easy-to-utilize to-do list.

2. Block off time where you are completely unavailable.

A recent study found that 69% of Gen Z and Millennials believe the second biggest distraction for them is their smartphone, and that's probably just as true for everyone in your organization. But avoiding your phone and blocking off time is much easier than you think. Not only can you use your calendar to block off what you need away from your team during the day, but you can also utilize your mobile device to take scheduled breaks. Here are step-by-step guides for Apple & Android.

 

3. Take breaks, often.

Yes, yes, yes. Be selfish as a shellfish. Stay within the acceptable limits and get your work done, but taking breaks can actually increase productivity. If you don’t remember the law of diminishing returns from college, you may have heard the phrase “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” However you analyze it, you need to treat yourself right so you can work hard.

 

Find the full blog here: 5 Must-Know Productivity Hacks for Summer

Conclusion

No matter how you’re facing the heat right now, it’s likely been a rough summer one way or another. Convincing your team to keep their nose to the grindstone may seem like another tough challenge, but understanding what’s going on – and how to battle it – can make things much simpler this summer.

And no matter what you need, we're here to answer your questions! Give us a call at (864) 552-1291 and we'll help you evaluate your capabilities and options. Also, consider following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter!